Western PA in the Revolutionary Era with storyteller Alan Irvine

Join us for a special America 250 event with storyteller Alan Irvine.
Alan will tell the stories of life in the late 1700s out on the frontier, tales of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War, of raids in the night and the struggle to survive, of Virginia’s Invasion of Pittsburgh, of the dramatic uprising of the Whiskey Rebellion, and Pittsburgh’s rise as the Gateway to the West.
Many years ago, Alan Irvine worked as a camp counselor in the Louisiana pine woods. One night, after lights out, he needed to do something to pass the time until the kids in the cabin fell asleep. Thinking back, he remembered a ghost story he heard years ago. When he told the story, something clicked; the kids in the cabin liked it and clamored for more. From that point on, Alan continued to tell stories in the cabin after lights out, around bonfires, while out on camping trips.
For years, Alan's ghost stories and humorous tales kept everyone huddled close to the campfire. In time, his repertoire of stories grew to include folk tales and legends, Irish and Celtic tales, Pennsylvania history, tales of King Arthur and other heroes, Shakespeare and more.
Alan tells his tales at many diverse venues including libraries, schools, colleges, and festivals. He was a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council for many years. He has appeared at Renaissance Festivals, Irish Festivals, science fiction conferences.
In addition to performing, Alan help found the storytelling group StorySwap. He has produced numerous storytelling shows, and was the chair of the 2006 National Storytellers Conference, held in Pittsburgh. Alan has numerous recordings, many of which have won Storytelling World and NAPPA awards. He has twice won the Three Rivers Storytelling Festival Liars contest (2013 and 2016.)
Alan also leads walking tours of Pittsburgh. He works with Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, where he tells stories of Shakespeare's plays, as well as hosting the popular Bring Your Own Bard reading series. He is the co-founder of Brawling Bard Theater, a troupe specializing in high-energy comedy and stage combat. Alan writes and directs for the company.